layne



Patented July 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS- M. E. LAYNE. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FLUID IN WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, I917.

M. E. LAYNE. APPARATUS FOR SEPAHATING FLUlD IN WELLS.

APPHCATION FILED SEPT. 28, 19H.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 3140211 To: i sffmzm wg an/A a ilfiITi-tllii New n" T, viii To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that l, MAHLON E. Lia-inn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Sheiby and. of Tennessee, have invented. certain new and useful ln'iprovcnients in Apparatus for Separating Fluid in Wells, of which the'tollowing is a specification. I

This invention relates to apparatus for separating the fluid in Wells, either oil, gas, or Water, from the formation in which it is found. It has for its primary object the provision of apparatus which Will cause the fluid to separate from or leave the formation at a point in advance of the point of en try into the fluid Withdrawing means and without the use of some one of the usual and Well known forms of mechanical strainers so commonly employed at present, such, for example, as a perforated supporting casing Wrapped with a helix of screening wire. It involves, in place of such n'iechanical straining, the use of a naturai filtering or separating process, as will moreclearly appear hereinafter. jects of the invention are the provision of V apparatus for the purpose described which shall be composed of 'tWO members intleoenclently formed and afterward put together in a most simple manner; and the manufacture of such apparatus -111 sections to be bolted, riveted or welrieti togetherto torzna substantially continuous construction, all of which will clearly appear in connectir i with the description of the accompanying lira-wings forming a part of this application.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section in per spective of a portion of a construction ernbodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sicle elevation thereof; and Fig. 3 illustrates a. modification.

By referring to the figures, it will be seen that the invention consists, generally speaking, of two apertured members placed one Within the other and riveted together, the apertures of one'or of bothof the members being so formed and the members being so placed together as to create a short channel or passageway from one opening to. the other, The apertures referred to are preferably formed by cutting a plurality of slits in the cylinders and pushing or crowdingthe metal inwardly or-outwarriiy in any preferred manner. The metal pushecl out forms a hood 9 with an opening at its edge. All of the hoods on the outer member are formed. to project Specification of Letters Fatent.

Further and more specific ob The protection thus afiorrleci the forms adjacent the opening it? allows its part final point of entry into the interior of ia atenter'l J Application filed September 25-. 193.7. Scriai 1t" 0. 193.74%.

outwardly with the openings 10 all is. downwardly and, if be rlesirei the hooded openings in both member of the hoods on the inside nienib forn'ieti to project inwarnly with i. ings 12 facing upwardly, shown. two members readily telescope for pl. of assembly. The hoo fls are l positioned as to bring the o one hoocl opposite the base of o This forms a channel or tween the two op ngs. The 0* forms the inlet to this channel an ing 12 forms its outlet. to the tuhe. It should here be nu point of fluid separation adj? ing' 10 is below the point of fiui the tube at the opening fluid through the channel it The fluid bearingformation. (not shown, in which the apparatus is placed his in ac jacent the opening 10 but is prevents" filling the channel 11 and is relieveci r cessive pressure by the projecting hoo to assume a certain looseness, such for ample, as would be present in a filter t posed of sand and gravel, from Whic Water or other i-luici can readily se In this manner, it will be seen,

is accomplished at a point in advance tube, and because the fluid. must pas \vardly through the channel 11 be 1 enters the tube, the particles of the iformation are left behind and not carried into.

the interior, i Also, because there is a plurality of these inclined entry passages proviriecl, as shown, the rate of nuid flow through each, anti at the point cit separation is maintained at a minimum. By thus cing the velocity of the flow at the point or separation, the fluid. rioes not entrain and llOiCi in suspension par ticles of the formation to be carried into the interior of the wel These separation points are, in efi'ect, What may termed small natural spring" percolates through jacent the openings and then enters the ing 12.

in Fig. 3 l. have iliustraterl a morlifica in this construction the hooiiieri opcnin -'i.us de mernhe-r 7 being i is arranged to come of presenting a smooth, unbroken wall surface which perniits of greater in. the passing of hailers. drills or other 2. up and down in the well while retainthesanie time the advantages of an e iannol through which the -fiuid flow upwardly to the interior of the member the one whirl]. projected which :enalres nos. ihle the telesoopie engagement described.

. it will be seen that the ronstrlurtion disao eloseo is most simple to manufacture, assemlole and install. llv permits the use of that class at metal known as boiler steel metal wliieh is more generally available than other elasses and at a lower price. The construetion most offer He and accomplishes the *a'tiot the. fluid without the use of a EIAQAilifil'llCZii sereening element.

1 clai in in well apparatus, a tubular fluid c01- ng r formed of two casings, the V casino formed therein a pluelf tli l2-l38l portions the upper terniinals which open into the collecting member; and he outer casing having a pinportions the lower teropen enterierly of the Colhl displaced portions position so as to cons e .annels.

apparatus, a tubular fluid cola s aman looting member formed of an inner casing and an outer casing, apertures in both easings, and olfsetpor'tions in the outer casing providing upwardly inclined passageways connecting the apertures of one wall to the apertures oi the other. v

ln'separators for wells and the like, an inner perforated casing, and downwardly and outwardly extending protector members on the outside of the casing overhanging the apertures therein, said protector members being larger than the apertures and extending beyond theedges of the apertures both vertically and horizontally;

a. In separators for wells and the like, an

inner perforated casing, and nose shaped protectors on the outside of the casing over its apertures, said protectors joining with the casing above and at the sides of the apertures and extending below the aperlures, forming openings only at their lower ends through which fluid must flow upwardly to reach the apertures.

5. In separators for wells and the like, an inner perforated casing, an outer sheathing around the perforated easing, said sheathing having openings struck therethrough in register with the casing apertures, the sheathing openings being larger than the casing apertures and extending beyond the sides and lower edge of the casing apertures, and the metal struck out of the sheathing to form the apertures forming downwardly and out wardly extending protector members which overhang the casing apertures.

6. In separators for wells and the like, an inner perforated easing, an outer sheathing around the perfoated easing, said sheathinghaving openings struck therethrough in register with the easing apertures, the sheathingiopenings being larger than the casing apertures and extending beyond the sides and lower edge of the casing apertures, and the metalstruek out of the sheathing to form the apertures forming nososhaped protectors with openings at their lower ends only. 1 v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed niy'name.

MAHLON F. LAYN *1. 

